Imbolc

1st/2nd February in the Northern Hemisphere
1st/2nd August in the Southern Hemisphere.

It’s nearly that time of year again where we celebrate the first of the Spring festivals, clearing the debris of winter. The first stirrings of Spring are not just seen in the outer world but also, hopefully within our hearts.

Imbolc literally means ‘in milk” and has traditionally marked the lactation period of ewes. Ewes can only produce milk after they have given birth so in ancient times the Celts saw this as the first signs that the new life of Spring was on its way. It was customary to pour some ewes milk onto the earth as an offering of nurturing and to encourage fertility and generosity of the earth.